Assistant Director of Development, CAL ​/ Development Officer I

Assistant Director of Development, CAL / Development Officer I

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development for the College of Arts & Letters, the successful candidate will join a collaborative team responsible for planning and executing the college's comprehensive development program, including fundraising efforts across designated in-state and out-of-state geographic regions. The Assistant Director of Development will maintain a portfolio of approximately 70 major gift prospects, focusing engagement on individuals with a philanthropic capacity of $50,000 or more.

In this role, the Assistant Director is expected to conduct 12–15 strategic visits per month, advancing relationships and moving prospects through the gift cycle toward solicitation. These efforts should yield 2–4 solicitations per month, with all solicitation activity coordinated and cleared through the college and University Advancement at Michigan State University.

Regular in-state travel is required involving an automobile; additional travel out-of-state involving air transportation can be expected quarterly.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Solicitation, Cultivation & Discovery -

• Build and sustain meaningful relationships with major gift prospects, aligning their philanthropic interests and passions with the college's funding priorities and opportunities.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 70 prospects, engaging each in tailored fundraising strategies and solicitations of $50,000 or more.
• Independently identify prospects ready to engage, secure exploratory meetings to assess philanthropic capacity, and qualify or disqualify individuals as major gift candidates.
• In collaboration with the development team, implement an annual strategic fundraising plan designed to meet the college's established dollar and donor goals, with focused attention on prospects at the $50,000+ capacity level.
• Conduct 12–15 personal visits per month with major prospects, advancing strategic moves toward the closure of special and major gifts.
• Communicate the needs and priorities of College of Arts & Letters units - both verbally and in writing - in ways that build understanding and inspire philanthropic investment.
• Cultivate productive working relationships with internal constituents to facilitate information exchange across college and university units and advise faculty and administrators on appropriate fundraising strategies.

Program Support -

• Contribute to the development and writing of fundraising materials that clearly articulate the college's funding priorities and make a compelling case for support, including solicitation appeals, gift proposals, cultivation and engagement pieces, and marketing and communications materials targeted to alumni and donors.
• Assist with the coordination of and participation in alumni and donor engagement, prospecting, recognition, and stewardship events as appropriate.
• Serve as a liaison between donors and prospects and the university and college, ensuring that requested information and services are provided in full accordance with university policies, rules, and regulations.
• Utilize the Ascend alumni and donor database to coordinate with development colleagues, document contact activities, update donor records, record moves management steps, and maintain accurate and current prospect information in support of major gift closure strategies.

Related Duties -

• Prepare annual personal fundraising goals and provide analysis and progress reports to the dean, University Advancement, volunteers, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Serve as a fundraising consultant and advisor to department heads and faculty as needed.
• Assist in planning and executing special-purpose fundraising appeals as needed.
• Pursue ongoing professional development through relevant workshops, seminars, and training opportunities.
• Represent Michigan State University and the College of Arts & Letters as an enthusiastic public ambassador and advocate.

COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Interacts with:

• Michigan State University alums and friends – in order to solicit potential donors, manage donor requests, and cultivate and train them as potential volunteers
• CAL…